Invasive princess tree confirmed spreading in Chattanooga area
iNaturalist: catoews
Invasive Species
If you spot a tree with huge heart-shaped leaves and purple foxglove-like flowers along a roadside or disturbed lot near you, it's likely princess tree, and pulling seedlings early keeps it from crowding out native saplings in your yard or nearby woods.
Someone in Chattanooga photographed and logged a princess tree, and other naturalists confirmed the ID, making it a verified record. Princess tree is originally from China and was brought to the US as an ornamental, but it spreads so fast from wind-blown seeds and resprouts so aggressively after cutting that it now pops up in forests, roadsides, and vacant lots across much of the eastern half of the country.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the ID was confirmed by multiple community members
Location recorded as Chattanooga, Tennessee, US
Species (Paulownia tomentosa) is a known invasive that colonizes disturbed ground and forest edges in the eastern US
chevron_right Technical Summary
A princess tree was spotted and verified in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This fast-growing tree looks striking with its purple flowers but is considered an aggressive invasive species in much of the eastern US.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) observed in Chattanooga, TN, US
Research-grade observation of princess tree in Chattanooga, TN, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Paulownia tomentosa, common names princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree, is a deciduous hardwood tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to central and eastern China and the Korean Peninsula. It is an extremely fast-growing tree with seeds that disperse readily and is considered an invas...